Trump Moves to Roll Back Biden’s ATF Rules

It’s been a long time coming, but the Trump administration is now making moves to undo the rules and regulations on gun owners and the firearms industry that Joe Biden and his allies in the gun control lobby put in place over the past few years. 

Three important reforms were announced, including the repeal of the Biden Federal Firearms Administrative Action Policy and Procedure (also known as the “Zero Tolerance” policy) as well as review and revisiting of the Biden “Pistol Brace Ban” and “Engaged in the Business” rules.

— Firearms Policy Coalition (@gunpolicy) April 7, 2025

It’s interesting to note that this news was shared with Second Amendment organizations before the mainstream media got wind of it, and its also worth pointing out that the ATF did not guarantee that the “review and revisiting” of the Biden-era rules. Still, if that wasn’t the intent of the review I doubt that ATF officials would have touted the fact that they’re under scrutiny, and the firearms industry is certainly viewing this as a positive. From the National Shooting Sports Foundation:

The Firearm Industry Trade Association — praises the announcement today by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that the agencies are doing away with the Biden-era “zero-tolerance” policy that punished lawful and highly-regulated Federal Firearm Licensees (FFLs) for minor clerical errors. The announcement also stated the agency was reconsidering the “Engaged in the Business” Final Rule and the Final Rule regarding factoring criteria for firearms with attached “stabilizing braces.” These particular Biden-era policies have been major impediments to the lawful and highly-regulated firearm industry’s ability to provide for the exercise of the Second Amendment. Both of those Final Rules have been enjoined by federal courts.

“NSSF applauds today’s announcement by the DOJ and ATF that the Biden-era ‘zero-tolerance’ policy is being eliminated. This is great news for the industry that provides for the lawful exercise of the Second Amendment. We have worked with the Trump administration to secure this critical industry victory since the first day of the president’s second term and we value the cooperation we’ve received at DOJ and ATF to arrive at today’s decision,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “The Biden administration purposefully suffocated the firearm industry at every opportunity and no policy was more damaging than its so-called ‘zero-tolerance’ policy. This reckless policy throttled small businesses and drove many to shut down by threatening crippling administrative costs to fight against penalties for minor errors and infractions that were previously reconciled in good faith between ATF officials and law-abiding firearm retailers.”

Oddly, there appears to be nothing in the AFT’s update to Second Amendment groups about the “frame and receiver” rule that was recently upheld by the Supreme Court in VanDerStok. It’s unclear if that means that policy is also not going to be revisited and reviewed with an eye towards repeal, but the fact that the Supreme Court let the rule stand doesn’t mean that it should remain in place. tt

Still, even without mentioning that particular rule this is another positive development for gun owners and Second Amendment advocates. My colleague Tom Knighton will have more on what might follow, as well as more reaction from 2A groups in an upcoming post, so stay tuned for more details and analysis.